Lavatory

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a sanitary cubicle.

The invention pertains to a sanitary cubicle.

In the context of this application, the term sanitary cubicle includesall types of facilities with sanitary installations that require thesupply of a fluid.

The sanitary installations may consist, for example, of toilets orurinals that require a flushing fluid or of hand wash basins thatrequire water in order to clean the hands.

Sanitary cubicles may also be realized in the form of self-containedsanitary cubicles without hookups, i.e., sanitary cubicles that are notconnected to an external water supply line.

Sanitary cubicles of this type are required, for example, on ships,airplanes, railroads, recreational vehicles or further mobile equipment.

The invention also pertains, in particular, to sanitary cubicles in theform of so-called portable toilet cubicles without hookups. These toiletcubicles are primarily known under the trademark “DIXI” of the firm ADCOUmweltdienste GmbH & Co. KG, Ratingen, and are required, for example, onconstruction sites or at outdoor events. These toilet cubicles consistof mobile (portable) “toilet cabins” and usually contain sanitaryinstallations in the form of a toilet, a hand wash basin and a urinal.

In sanitary cubicles without hookups, in particular, it would bedesirable to find an effective and—with respect to a toilet or a urinalof the sanitary cubicle—hygienic “substitute” for an external fluid(water) supply.

In this context, it is known to flush the toilet or the urinal by meansof a so-called “recirculation flushing system.” In this case, the liquidfractions of the human excrements are reused for flushing purposes.

However, a recirculation flushing system is quite unfavorable, inparticular, with respect to hygienic considerations.

There also exist so-called fresh water flushing systems. In this case,the user actuates a hand lever pump or a foot pump in order to deliverthe fluid for flushing the toilet or the urinal or for washing thehands.

One disadvantage of a fresh water flushing system is that the flushingprocess is dependent on the actuation by the user; this means that itcannot always be ensured that the toilet or the urinal is flushed. Undercertain circumstances, the actuation of the pump may also be consideredan “annoyance” by the user.

The invention is based on the objective of making available a sanitarycubicle, particularly without hookups, in which a fluid can be reliablydelivered to the sanitary installations of the sanitary cubicle and ahygienic flushing of the sanitary installations, particularly a toiletor a urinal, can be achieved.

According to the invention, this objective is attained with a sanitarycubicle with a hinged door, a pump for delivering a fluid to a sanitaryinstallation and a transmission means that is arranged between the doorand the pump in such a way that the pump can be actuated by the swingingmovement of the door.

In the sanitary cubicle according to the invention, a fluid is deliveredto the sanitary installations by swinging the door. Such a swingingmovement of the door occurs, in particular, when the user of thesanitary cubicle opens and closes its door. The respective user of thesanitary cubicle does not perceive this actuation of the pump “annoying”because the door needs to be opened and closed “anyhow” when enteringand exiting the sanitary cubicle.

In addition, a reliable delivery of a fluid to the sanitaryinstallations is ensured because the user of the sanitary cubicle needsto open or swing the door “in any case.” In contrast to fresh waterflushing systems according to the state of the art, the user can nolonger “forget” to flush the respective sanitary installation.

On its intake side (suction side), the pump is connected, for example,to a fluid reservoir by means of one or more hoses or pipelines orcombinations thereof. On its delivery side (pressure side), the pump isconnected to one or more sanitary installations, for example, by meansof one or more hoses or pipelines or combinations thereof. When the pumpis actuated, the fluid contained in the fluid reservoir is delivered tothe sanitary installations connected to the pump.

It is possible, in principle, to utilize any type of pump, for example,a reciprocating pump such as a reciprocating piston pump or a diaphragmpump.

It would be possible to utilize a pump with a double stroke, forexample, a double-stroke diaphragm pump. In double-stroke pumps, thepump delivers the fluid a first time when the pump handle (lever) ismoved in one direction and a second time when the pump handle is movedback. In the idle state, the pump handle can be held in a definedposition, for example, by means of a spring or another tensioningelement.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pump handle is in its idleposition when the door of the sanitary cubicle is closed. Once a userswings the door open, the transmission means transmits this swingingmovement to the pump handle such that the pump handle is moved and thepump delivers (pumps) the fluid from the fluid reservoir into thesanitary installations connected to the pump a first time.

When the door subsequently swings back into the closed position, thepump handle is moved once again by the transmission means (or by thetensioning element of the pump handle, respectively) and the pumpdelivers fluid from the fluid reservoir to the sanitary installationsconnected to the pump a second time. If the pump handle is held in adefined position by a tensioning element in its idle state, thetransmission means transmits the swinging movement against the force ofthe tensioning element to the pump handle when the door is opened. Thisinitiates the first pumping process as described above. When the door isclosed, the pump handle is moved back into its idle position due to theforce of the tensioning element (and, if applicable, by the transmissionmeans). This initiates the second above-described pumping process.

When the user exits the sanitary cubicle, the door is subjected tocorresponding swinging movements such that the pump delivers fluid tothe sanitary installations in accordance with the previous description.Sanitary installations, particularly the toilet and the urinal, areflushed during this process.

Naturally, it would also be possible to utilize pumps that only carryout one pumping process when the door is opened and closed—i.e., whenswinging the door back and forward.

For example, the pump handle of such pumps only initiates one pumpingprocess during one back-and-forward movement of the door.

It is possible to utilize a sanitary cubicle, in which the fluidreservoir is arranged in the wall of the sanitary cubicle. In this case,the sanitary cubicle is realized, for example, in a double-walledfashion such that the free intermediate space between the walls formsthe fluid reservoir. In a portable toilet cubicle without hookups, forexample, one or more “columns” in the corners of the toilet cubiclecould be realized in the form of fluid reservoirs.

The pump delivers the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the sanitaryinstallations via hoses or pipelines or combinations thereof. This makesit possible, for example, to flush a toilet or a urinal of the sanitarycubicle.

It is possible to arrange the end sections of the hoses or pipelineswithin the sanitary installations such that the fluid is “tangentially”delivered into the respective sanitary installation. This makes itpossible to produce a circulating fluid flow in the sanitaryinstallation in order to subject the respective sanitary installation toa favorable cleaning effect. Alternatively, a perforated line that isconnected to the hoses or pipelines of the pump may extend along thecircumference of the upper edge of the sanitary installation. The fluidcan be “perpendicularly” sprayed onto the surface of the sanitaryinstallation from the perforations of the circumferential line in thiscase.

It is possible, in principle, to utilize any fluid that is suitable forcleaning a sanitary installation, for example, water. If the fluid isalso delivered to a hand wash basin, it should be compatible with thehuman skin.

The fluid may consist, for example, of water and another component thatlowers the surface tension of the water, e.g., a tenside solution. Theutilization of a corresponding fluid provides the advantage of improvingthe sliding properties of the sanitary installation being flushed withthis fluid. This reduces the amount of matter (e.g., feces or toiletpaper) adhering to the toilet. In this context, the flushing thatalready takes place when entering the sanitary cubicle—and is triggeredby the swinging movement of the door when the user enters the cubicle—isparticularly advantageous, namely because the sanitary installation isalready wetted with a fluid film before it is used such that the amountof matter adhering to the toilet during its use can be significantlyreduced.

The tenside solution may consist, for example, of 98-99 weight-percentwater and 1-2 weight-percent of a tenside concentrate, wherein thetenside concentrate contains, for example, 3-7 weight-percent ofnon-ionic tenside and at least one of the following components:inorganic acids, organic acids, solubilizers or perfume oil.

According to one embodiment, the bowl of the toilet consists of aplastic part, for example, polyethylene.

The plastic part may be realized, for example, in an essentiallyfunnel-shaped fashion. On the user side, the plastic part may beprovided with an acrylic coating that has superior sliding properties,particularly if it was previously wetted with a tenside. Matter situatedin the funnel slides through the outlet opening of the funnel into theholding tank situated underneath.

Funnel-shaped holding tanks are known from the state of the art. Thedisadvantage of these funnels can be seen in the fact that they allow aclear view of the holding tank. This is unfavorable with respect toesthetic considerations. In addition, it may occur that liquid mattersplashes upward out of the holding tank. This is also unfavorable withrespect to hygienic considerations. It is known from the state of theart to close the outlet opening of the funnel leading into the holdingtank by means of a flap. However, this is relatively complicated.

If a funnel-shaped plastic part is used as the toilet bowl, theinvention proposes to arrange the outlet opening laterally in the wallof the funnel rather than in its center (axially). In this case, theoutlet opening at least partially protrudes over the lowest point of thefunnel such that no matter can adhere at this location. This not onlyensures a reliable removal of matter situated in the funnel (feces,toilet paper, flushing water, etc.) into the holding tank, but alsoreduces the view and the “splashing upward” of matter situated in theholding tank, namely because the outlet opening is aligned at a steeperangle relative to the user such that the surface facing the user isreduced—while maintaining the size of the outlet opening identical tothat of an axial arrangement.

The invention also proposes that the surface of the funnel facing theholding tank is colored black. This black color reduces the lightintensity in the holding tank such that the holding tank is less visiblefor the user. This is advantageous with respect to estheticconsiderations. In addition, the inner wall of the holding tank may alsobe colored black.

The transmission means used may consist, in principle, of any means thatis suitable for converting the swinging movement of the door into anactuation of the pump.

The transmission means may consist, for example, of an electronic or amechanical component or a combination thereof.

An electronic component may consist, for example, of a transmitting anda receiving unit, wherein a swinging movement of the door causes thetransmitting unit to transmit a signal to the receiving unit and thereceiving unit to forward the signal to a device for actuating the pump.Such a transmitting and receiving unit may be realized, for example, inthe form of a so-called light barrier.

A transmission means in the form of a mechanical component may consist,in principle, of any component that converts the swinging movement ofthe door into a movement that causes an actuation of the pump, i.e., apower transmission means. This mechanical component may consist, forexample, of an element (that is a resistant to bending), e.g., anarticulated arm, a Bowden cable or a combination thereof.

A Bowden cable consists of a tube with a wire that is guided therein ina sliding fashion. A force can be transmitted by the movement of thewire if the tube is fixed on both of its ends.

In the sanitary cubicle according to the invention, the tube of theBowden cable can be arranged on a first stationary holding element atits end on the door side and on a second stationary holding element atits end on the pump side. In this context, the term “stationary” impliesthat the holding elements are arranged stationarily relative to thesanitary cubicle.

The wire of the Bowden cable can now be connected to the door at its endon the door side and to a device for actuating the pump at its end onthe pump side.

On the door side, the wire of the Bowden cable may be coupled to thedoor in such a way that the wire is pulled out of the tube on the doorside by a certain section when the door swings open. For example, whenutilizing a door with a joint rod for supporting the door swinging inhinges, the end on the door side can be coupled to the joint rod in sucha way that the wire is wound around the joint rod in case of a swingingmovement of the door. For this purpose, the joint rod may be provided,for example, with a receptacle, into which the end of the wire on thedoor side is inserted with a thickening. A radially extendingcircumferential groove may be provided on the joint rod in the region ofthe receptacle in order to guide the wire on the joint rod.

The end of the transmission means on the pump side may be directlycoupled to a device for actuating the pump, for example, a pump handle(lever for actuating the pump).

Alternatively, the end of the transmission means on the pump side may becoupled to a device for actuating the pump via one or more intermediateelements. These intermediate elements may consist, for example, oflevers or other power-transmitting elements.

According to one embodiment, the end of the wire of the Bowden cable onthe pump side is coupled to the device for actuating the pump via anintermediate element. This intermediate element may be movably arranged,for example, on the second holding element, i.e., the holding elementfor holding the end of the tube of the Bowden cable on the pump side.

The first and the second holding element, in principle, may have anyarbitrary shape.

For example, the second holding element may be realized in the form of ahollow body, e.g., a tubular hollow body. The end of the tube of theBowden cable on the pump side may be arranged, for example, in theinterior of the hollow body, and the end of the wire of the Bowden cableon the pump side may protrude out of the hollow body. The end of thewire that protrudes out of the hollow body is coupled to the device foractuating the pump or the intermediate element, respectively.

For example, the intermediate element may be designed in such a way thatit can be movably arranged on the holding element.

When utilizing a holding element in the form of a tubular hollow body,the intermediate element may be arranged on the hollow body, forexample, along its axis. In this case, the intermediate element maycontain, for example, an inner cylindrical opening for encompassing thecylindrically shaped circumferential surface of the holding element. Theintermediate element can now be moved on the holding element along itsaxis.

The end of the wire of the Bowden cable on the pump side may bearbitrarily connected to the device for actuating the pump or theintermediate element. For example, the end of the wire may contain athickening that is inserted into a receptacle of the device foractuating the pump or into a receptacle of the intermediate element. Theend of the wire may also be connected, for example, to a thread that isscrewed into the device for actuating the pump or into the intermediateelement.

The intermediate element can be held in a defined position by a spring,for example, a pressure spring. The spring may consist, for example, ofa cylindrical coil spring that, when utilizing a holding element in theform of a cylindrical hollow body, may be arranged coaxially to the axisof the holding element and to the axis of the opening in theintermediate element.

The intermediate element is connected to the device for actuating thepump, for example, by means of one or more intermediate elements, namelyin such a way that the pump can be actuated via the intermediateelement. For example, the intermediate element may be connected to thepump handle of the pump (lever).

According to one embodiment, the intermediate element is arranged in thesanitary cubicle in such a way that it can be manipulated by the user ofthe sanitary cubicle. This makes it possible for the user to directlymove the intermediate element (independently of a swinging movement ofthe door). Consequently, the user is also able to actuate the pumpindependently of a swinging movement of the door by directlymanipulating the intermediate element. The intermediate element may beprovided, for example, with a foot pedal or with a hand lever in orderto manipulate the intermediate element and thusly actuate the pump.

Other characteristics of the invention are disclosed in the dependentclaims and the other application documents, particularly the figures.

It goes without saying that all characteristics disclosed in thisapplication may be arbitrarily combined with one another.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to oneembodiment.

The highly schematic figures respectively show:

FIG. 1, a lateral section through a sanitary cubicle in the region ofthe pump, and

FIG. 2, a perspective representation of the mounting of the end of aBowden cable on the door side.

The floor of the sanitary cubicle shown in FIG. 1 is realized in adouble-walled fashion and comprises an upper floor plate 1 and a lowerfloor plate 2, on which a metal plate 3 is arranged.

A holding element 4 that is essentially realized in the form of atubular hollow body is arranged on the metal plate 3 such that itperpendicularly protrudes therefrom. A bolt 5 extends through the lowerfloor plate 2 as well as the metal plate 3 and into the inner hollowspace of the holding element 4 coaxially to the holding element 4. Onthe side of the metal plate 3 that points away from the holding element4, the bolt 5 contains a thickening that adjoins the metal plate 3. Agrooved dowel pin is guided through the bolt 5 and the holding element 4perpendicular to the axis of the holding element 4 in order to mount theholding element 4 by means of the bolt 5.

A Bowden cable 11 extends into the inner hollow space of the holdingelement 4 through a lateral opening 9 in the holding element 4. The end11 ep of the tube of the Bowden cable 11 on the pump side is clamped inposition by means of a radially extending circumferential bead in theinterior of the holding element 4.

The end of the wire 15 of the Bowden cable 11 on the pump side protrudesfrom the holding element 4 and is rigidly connected to a thread 17, theaxis of which extends coaxially referred to the axis of the holdingelement 4.

The thread 17 is inserted into the inner cylindrical opening of anintermediate element 19. The inner cylindrical opening of theintermediate element 19 extends coaxially referred to the axis of theholding element 4 and encompasses the cylindrical outer circumferentialsurface of the holding element 4. The intermediate element 19 can becorrespondingly moved up and down along the axis of the holding element4.

A cylindrical pressure spring in the form of a coil spring 21 isarranged between the upper edge of the holding element 4 and the loweredge of the thread 17 in order to hold the intermediate element 19 in anidle position—that is illustrated in FIG. 1.

In its lower region, the intermediate element 19 contains a widenedsection, wherein a foot pedal 23 lies on the upwardly directed surface19 o of this widened section. The foot pedal 23 contains an essentiallycylindrical inner hollow space that is placed over the intermediateelement 19 such that the inner hollow space of the foot pedal 23 alsoextends coaxially referred to the axis of the holding element 4. Theouter circumferential surface of the foot pedal 23 is realized in anessentially cylindrical fashion and contains a taper in its upper endsection. The taper in the upper end section is guided through an opening25 in the upper base plate 1.

The widened section of the intermediate element 19 contains a downwardlydirected, groove-like depression (not shown in FIG. 1), in which thepump handle 27 of a diaphragm pump 29 is arranged (the section of thepump handle 27 that is illustrated with broken lines lies in thegroove-like depression). The pump handle 27 is held in the positionshown in FIG. 1 by a (not-shown) tensioning element.

The diaphragm pump 29 is arranged on the metal plate 3 and comprises anintake line 31 on the suction side that arrives from a (not-shown) fluidreservoir and a delivery line 33 on the pressure side that leads to the(not-shown) sanitary installations.

The joint rod 35 of the (not-shown) door of the sanitary cubicle isillustrated in FIG. 2. A driver 37 is mounted on the joint rod 35 suchthat it extends coaxially thereto.

The driver 37 contains a receptacle 39 in the form of a depression inthe region of a radially extending circumferential bead 37 w that isadjoined by a radial groove 41 of smaller width than the receptacle 39.

The end 11 et of the tube of the Bowden cable 11 on the door side isarranged on a (not-shown) stationary holding element on the door side.

The end of the wire 15 of the Bowden cable 11 on the door side containsa thickening 43 that is inserted into the receptacle 39. The section ofthe wire 15 that lies adjacent to the thickening 43 extends through thegroove 41 situated adjacent to the thickening 43 over a certaindistance.

The function of a sanitary cubicle with the installations shown in FIGS.1 and 2 is described below.

The joint rod 35 is turned about its axis (indicated with an arrow D inFIG. 2) due to a swinging movement of the door of the sanitary cubicle.This causes a displacement of the thickening 43 situated in thereceptacle 39 such that the wire 15 is subjected to tension. During therotational movement, the wire 15 is placed into the groove 41. Once thedoor is completely swung open, the wire 15 is looped around the groove41 by an angle of approximately 90°.

The thread 17 fixed to the other end of the wire 15 on the pump side andconsequently the intermediate element 19 connected thereto are alsosubjected to a corresponding tension, namely downward in the directionof the arrow P in FIG. 2. This movement takes place against the force ofthe coil spring 21.

The downward movement of the intermediate element 19 simultaneouslycauses the pump handle 27 lying in the groove-like depression of thewidened section of the intermediate element 19 to be pressed downwardagainst the force of the tensioning element.

This downward movement of the pump handle 27 initiates a first pumpingprocess of the diaphragm pump 29: fluid is sucked into the diaphragmpump 29 from the fluid reservoir via the intake line 31 and delivered tothe sanitary installations via the delivery line 33 of the diaphragmpump 33.

Once the door swings back into the closed position, the joint rod 35turns in the respectively opposite direction.

This reduces the tension on the wire 15. The tension of the coil spring21 is released such that it presses the thread 17 and consequently theintermediate element 19 connected thereto upward opposite to thedirection of the arrow P.

The force of the coil spring 21 causes the wire 15 to remaincontinuously tensioned, namely even if the door is closed again.

The upward movement of the intermediate element 19 also causes the forceexerted upon the pump handle 27 by the intermediate element to bereduced. This results in the tensioning element moving the pump handle27 upward once again, namely into the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

The upward movement of the pump handle 27 initiates a second pumpingprocess of the diaphragm pump 29 that takes place in accordance with theabove-described first pumping process.

The user of the sanitary cubicle is able to initiate a pumping processindependently of the above-described pumping processes by stepping onthe section of the foot pedal 23 that is guided through the upper baseplate 1. The downward movement of the foot pedal 23 that lies on thesurface 19o of the widened section of the intermediate element 19 causesa corresponding downward movement of the intermediate element 19 suchthat a first pumping process is initiated as described above. Once thefoot pedal 23 is no longer subjected to a load, the foot pedal—and theintermediate element 19—are moved upward again due to the force of thetensioning element of the pump handle 27. As described above, thisresults in a second pumping process being initiated.

1. A sanitary cubicle with a hinged door, a pump (29) for delivering afluid to a sanitary installation and a transmission means (11, 15, 17,19) that is arranged between the door and the pump (29) in such a waythat a swinging movement of the door results in an actuation of the pump(29).
 2. The sanitary cubicle according to claim 1 with a pump (29) inthe form of a diaphragm pump.
 3. The sanitary cubicle according to claim1 with a transmission means in the form of a Bowden cable (11).
 4. Thesanitary cubicle according to claim 3, wherein the tube of the Bowdencable (11) is arranged on a first stationary holding element at its endon the door side and on a second stationary holding element (4) at itsend on the pump side.
 5. The sanitary cubicle according to claim 3,wherein the wire (15) of the. Bowden cable (11) is connected to the doorat its end on the door side and to a device (27) for actuating the pump(29) at its end on the pump side.
 6. The sanitary cubicle according toclaim 5, wherein the device for actuating the pump (29) consists of alever (27).
 7. The sanitary cubicle according to claim 5, wherein theend of the wire (15) on the pump side is connected to the device (27)for actuating the pump (29) by means of an intermediate element (19). 8.The sanitary cubicle according to claim 7, wherein the intermediateelement (19) is movably arranged on the second holding element (4). 9.The sanitary cubicle according to claim 4 with a second holding element(4) in the form of a tubular hollow body, wherein the end of the tube ofthe Bowden cable (11) on the pump side is arranged in the interior ofthe hollow body (4) and the end of the wire (15) of the Bowden cable(11) on the pump side protrudes from the hollow body (4).
 10. Thesanitary cubicle according to claim 9, wherein the end of the wire (15)that protrudes from the hollow body (4) is connected to the device (27)for actuating the pump (29) or to the intermediate element (19).
 11. Thesanitary cubicle according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate element(19) is arranged on the hollow body (4) such that it can be moved alongthe axis of the hollow body (4).
 12. The sanitary cubicle according toclaim 11, wherein the intermediate element (19) can be held in a definedposition by a pressure spring (21).